Stepping Lightly

[Saiketsu]

[[continued from Bank Shot.]]

Pierre fought the urge to grab the Ancient by the arm and haul her away before she caused a scene here - mostly because he wouldn't get halfway through the bar before she picked him up and threw him into a table or wall, outing both of them as immortal. No, instead he knew he had to play whatever game it was that she was maintaining in her head. He approached Sonya mostly soundlessly, his steps quiet only due to the racket of the rest of the bar and billiards club.

Nadia was on her way. Surely she would have some ideas on how to control the situation.

He knew that his face would be in visible pain, his stride less than confident after being kneed in the groin. And he would deal with whatever remark Sonya decided to make about it with the understanding that she would be safe and contained soon enough. So he approached Sonya, who was engaged in searching the bar for something.

As he approached her, he knew something was off - well, something more than usual. First it was her hat, a gaudy monstrosity much like the ones women wore in the south when going to church, or Kentucky Derby. He couldn't remember when the last time he saw a hat on Sonya's head was... Then there was that dress - high collared and close-necked, very unlike Sonya. To wear something so out of fashion in public didn't sit right. The dress looked old, something he usually saw more than a century ago when Europe was going through its industrial period. So why was she wearing it now amongst humans in jeans and short skirts?

"Sonya?" he said loudly, unsure of himself now and his voice coming out weaker than he intended it to. The Ancient didn't turn to him so he stepped closer - perhaps she was distracted by something important. The hairs on his biceps prickled. "Sonya." He called again, now only three feet from her. Still nothing. Surely she would have heard him by now. Pierre approached the bar and stood next to the Ancient, politely muscling out some humans who were lingering nearby. The bartender gave him a weary look that spoke to exactly what Pierre was feeling.

He turned towards her and the hairs on the back of his neck prickled, everything in his body telling him to step back and away from her. She smelled strongly of blood and the ocean, her hair reeking of salt, brine coating the sides of her face near her ears. And there was sand in her hairline, light-colored pebbles and bits stuck in between the hair follicles. Visible dust clung to her clothes, the smell of a closet left shut for too long. Worse, he could see miniscule droplets of blood on near her ears and hairline. Pierre could see no blood besides, but was sure by the smell that she had fed.

Lowly and carefully he said the name that he had learned to address her by, a name she had given up to be more modern. A name that he knew he shouldn't say around those who didn't know it. "Odessa?"

[The Cedar Witch]

Up until this point, Odessa seemed thoroughly engrossed with watching the humans at the bar between quick glances.  She at least had the mind to not outright stare--besides, she was still waiting for dear Friedrich and she didn’t want to draw anyone else to her for the time being.  So best not to stare.  But it was getting awfully late and she didn’t know how much longer she wanted to wait.  It was a foreign feeling for her to be stood-up--no one had ever dared!  Especially not Friedrich, he was always so punctual--early even.  It was one of her favorite qualities--well, besides his blood and his attentiveness in bed.  The vampire’s mouth trembled at the thought, hungrily eyeing the closest human to her.  No, this would not be good.  The longer she waited the more her throat nagged.  Perhaps she could drag one away quickly outside, to the back of the building?  Just a little taste, nothing more.  Something to make the awful waiting a bit more bearable. But how she detested being kept waiting like this.

Running her tongue along her teeth, she began to feel a touch self-conscious.  How pathetic she must seem, sitting here alone at the bar.  It was odd enough that no one had approached her yet--well, save for that rude bartender.  Usually, the men would be clawing at each other for a seat next to her.  And that seat was available.  No--they couldn’t possibly be avoiding her, could they?  No, no, no, that was very unlikely.  This was Friedrich’s place, they were seen together surely--maybe everyone knew to leave her.  Maybe Friedrich had staked his claim and threatened anyone who thought otherwise?  Unlikely.  Friedrich didn’t have the gall for that sort of thing.  Odessa squinted at the wall, pressing her fingertips to her temple.

Why was it all so fuzzy?

No, it was time to make a decision.  She would count to six hundred (at a human’s pace) before leaving--she had to do something to distract her from the steady heartbeats ringing out against the din of the bar.  This would be Friedrich’s last chance--she would not be made a fool of again.  She could almost hear the snickering at the bar--or was it whispering?  It was impossible to tell, the sound lingering just out of reach of discernment. 

twentyfive...twentysix...twentyseven...

There was another sound, closer.  But maybe it was her imagination.  It was terribly distracting and she couldn’t be made to lose count.  She had made a decision to wait for the allotted amount of time.  Friedrich had exactly five hundred and sixty-three seconds to appear or she would leave.  Odessa’s eyes drilled into the door, expecting him to cross through at any minute, all apologies and clinging to her knees, begging her forgiveness.  Begging…

“Odessa?”

She whipped around suddenly, not expecting Friedrich to be appearing next to her--she thought he wasn’t here yet!

“Fri--” No, that wasn’t Friedrich.  Was it?  The man before her wavered, face melting between three different past aquaintances as Odessa scrambled to figure out who had addressed her.  She squinted for a quick beat before her face shifted noticeably into a mask of politeness.

“Ah, Pierre?” She began quickly in old French “It’s been quite some time!  How long have you been in America?  Tell me, how was Portugal?”  She flashed her fangs in a wide smile, skin stretching taught across her face.  Ah, yes, Pierre.  He looked quite different now, nothing like she had remembered. 

[Harlequin]

A black towncar whispered up to the curb outside the pool hall. Nadia, inside, smoothed nonexistent stray hairs away from her face and into the severe ponytail high on the back of her head, fingers lingering at her temples.A human would've taken a steadying breath, here, but she hadn't needed to breathe in centuries, and decades had passed since she'd needed steadying.

The vampire exited the car and entered the pool hall, the heels of her low boots clack-clacking on the pavement, and then the old tile of the floor inside. She cut a harsh figure in black cigarette pants and a tailored jacket, shoulders as sharp and angular as her facial features, set now, as ever, in an impassive mask as she approached the pair at the bar and took the seat next to her sire. Their conversation had reached her ears, and a smile touched the corners of her mouth, painted a delicate shade just this side of nude. That was the only part of her face it touched. She laid a hand on Sonya's shoulder, fond and familiar, head tilted to one side as she waited for Pierre's answer.

Best to play along for now said her subtle, encouraging nod.

[Saiketsu]

Portugal? he thought quizzically, caught unawares. He hadn't been to Portugal since the 1700's, since before Jenella was claimed. Pierre couldn't keep his face even despite his best effort, not only because of her words but also because of her face. Gaunt, bony. He could see the outline of her teeth behind her lips, the sockets too deep, the cheekbones jutting. Sonya looked like a human who looked on the edge of starvation, malnourished. He was taken aback and was losing face with every moment he didn't respond.

And then a flutter of movement and Nadia was there, a tight but smiling expression on her face, her eyes talking to him and her face saying something else. Pierre looked at her with a measure of fright that he quickly hid from the Ancient, a pleading look. "Portugal was... good. Very good, in fact." His eyes darted over to Nadia to see if he were actually selling anything he was saying. "I came here a... few years ago in search of a new fledge. Needed a change of scenery.

"Ah Nadia!" He exclaimed with a pitch slightly higher than he intended. "So good to see you. How long has it been now?" Pierre forced the ball back into her court desperately, feeling a bit of franticness rise in his chest. What sorry hell had he gotten himself into?

--

Damien was lying down on the couch with Rachel when he first received the text. At first he ignored it, shoving his mouth farther into Rachel's warm, pulsing neck, kissing her casually from time to time. They were right in the middle of a show that they had agreed was a new favorite, a lawyer who kept getting himself deeper and deeper into trouble with the Mexican cartel. Rachel was dressed in one of his shirts and a pair of panties while Damien was shirtless and in one of his only pairs of sweatpants. She was comfortable and warm next to him, heating both him and the couch cushions in a way that he was more than pleased with.

The vampire reached for his phone on the coffee table, leaning over Rachel to get it, squishing her playfully and receiving a brisk "Hey!" in response. He keyed in his password with a smile before he fully read the text.

"Oh shit." He said to himself at first. "Pierre found Odessa. She's in a bar?" The surprise was evident in his voice and the two of them both shifted so Damien could stand. She had been missing for almost two years now and they had all assumed that she had gone to ground. Apparently not.

"I have to go." He began his rush towards his bedroom - now their bedroom - before hearing Rachel's response.

"But wait, do you want me to come with you?"

"Absolutely not," he spun and said to her from the hallway. "If she has gone to ground and awoken, she's far too dangerous for you to be around. I do need you to get dressed, though." And understanding the seriousness of the situation, they both went to the bedroom and found their proper clothing.

[The Cedar Witch]

Odessa nodded while Pierre spoke, unable to maintain much eye-contact on account of the relentless pounding in her head--or was that in the air?  Heartbeats.  Blood.  The vampire winced and pressed her temple lightly.  She was growing tired and needed to feed.

"Yes, yes.  Always looking for someone now, aren't we?"  Another smile, though she didn't listen to what she said and was preoccupied with looking elsewhere.  There was still time before Friedrich, she could still steal away one of the plump creatures at the bar and open his neck somewhere behind the building.  But she had decided to wait.  Wasn't she watching the door?  Counting... counting to six hundred--but why?  Friedrich?  No, he had been dead for... how long was it now?  It didn't matter--he wasn't coming now and she had wasted her time completely.  What a fool.  How could she have made such a simple mistake?  She had sat here for how long now, doing nothing but waiting?  Counting and waiting, waiting and counting.  Holding back from taking a delicious snack...

Odessa started at Nadia's touch--how had she not heard her coming?  Surely she hadn't just appeared out of thin air.  Now, this was too strange, too difficult to think about.  It was best to keep talking then, she didn't want to seem rude.

"My Nadia--why this is altogether too much a coincidence."  She leaned lovingly against her fledge, kissing her lightly on the cheek.  "I have missed you so dearly, please tell me you are here for a while--we must catch up." 

[Harlequin]

Pierre's panicked look was returned with a brief, hard one, hiding the twist in her gut at seeing him so unsure of himself. Now was not the time to fall apart.

"Too long," Nadia pouted, with a rueful shake of her head. She presented her cheek for the kiss, and didn't flinch as her sire's cracked lips rasped against her cheek. Rather, she returned the gesture, and gave Odessa's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"I would love that. There's much to discuss," Nadia moved her arm so she was half embracing her sire, "We could retire to my rooms?" She rested her chin on her sire's head, despite the overwhelming stench of death and seawater, "Unless, of course, someone else will be joining us?"

The question was pointed at both of her companions. To Pierre, it meant: Where is Damien?. To Sonya, an attempt to suss out exactly where and when she thought they were.

[Saiketsu]

At the precise moment Nadia asked if the three of them were waiting for someone else, Damien, alone, stepped out of the car. He was dressed very simply, jeans and a long sleeved charcoal- colored tee. He had had to move Rachel quickly out of the house. Fortunately for the both of them, a good friend whom Damien could trust lived only a mile or so from the house. With Laurent still on the run and hiding somewhere in the city, he couldn't feel comfortable leaving Rachel by herself anywhere, something they had both agreed was safer. And there was no way that he could have left her in the house, not when there was a good chance of bringing Sonya over for rehabilitation. It was bad enough that his house still smelled strongly of the human in ways which he preferred not to let anyone know. But seeing as Damien had both a safe room and the chambers in the basement designed for vampiric injury and containment, he saw few other options.

He raced to the door at a human pace and yanked it open quickly, eyes searching for Odessa. It was Pierre and Nadia he recognized first, the small figure in a gaudy hat between them must have been Sonya. The two fledged made eye contact with one another before finding Damien's intense gaze across the bar. He approached with trepidation, never having seen the desiccation process outside of his own experience with it.

She reeked of the ocean and decaying plant life and Damien had a very difficult time not wrinkling his nose at her. "Odessa!" He said sounding thrilled to see his Ancient friend though his chest felt the exact opposite. "What a fortunate coincidence! What brings you into town?" He approached and lifted her delicate bony hand to his lips in a familiar greeting. "I'm sorry I'm late. I had business to take care of first."

[The Cedar Witch]

"Ah--well, unfortunately, I must decline your invitation, my dear Nadia."  Her eyes darted between the pulsing necks at the bar and her fledge.   "Unless," she added lowly, "You were finding yourself a touch peckish--than you could join me.  It could be just like old times."  How she missed the way they used to hunt together in Italy!  The dreadful pair, the two of them were--many lusted but few were granted the privilege.  The dancing, the web-weaving, drawing them in--and how enchanted they were!  So effortlessly drawing them to their demise--well, mostly anyway.  Nadia was far kinder, such a sweet girl.

The sound of her name again drew her attention, and a look of rapture washed over her face.  At last this was Friedrich!  Soon they would be back in the carriage, her face buried in his neck.  Had it really been six hundred seconds already?  The distraction had made her forget to count but no matter.  He was here now and she could finally leave this dreadful bar.  She turned to meet him, the motion dizzying--but why?  The man before her wobbled as he took her hand--such a charmer Friedrich was, and he was looking particularly delicious this evening.  Her jaw trembled.  She did adore how well behaved he was and how dreadfully hard he tried.  But it was cold lips that feathered across her hand--and suddenly Damien snapped sharply into focus.

No, Friedrich was dead.  She had already determined that--was she losing her mind?  What was Damien doing here?  What were any of them doing here, for that matter?  So soon--one after the other--and she never saw any of them coming.  They couldn't possibly be figments, maybe this was another dream?  She had woken up--hadn't she?  Sleeping for so long and then...  Dressing herself to meet Friedrich, who was gone.  She had no memory of getting to the bar.  No memory of actually waking nevermind the party--if there was a party.

The vampire squeezed her eyes shut, skin straining at the effort, and she pressed a palm against her forehead.  No--none of this made any sense.  They couldn't know, though.  She was Odessa Irena Turkevich, not some pathetically confused wench drunk and alone at the bar.

"Damien..." she said softly in reply, looking from the place on her hand where he had kissed her over to Nadia--a look of desperation for a moment.  "Ah--it is quite alright.  I was just leaving, please forgive my rudeness--I have another engagement."  Yes, leaving.  She needed to leave.  How long had she been sitting here?  Wherever here was.  She made a move to stand, steadying herself against the counter.  "We must all...catch up sometime soon."

[Harlequin]

"But we've only just arrived!" As Sonya stood, Nadia's hand slid down her arm, twining their fingers together. Even as spindly and clawlike as Sony's hands had become, they still fit together like puzzle pieces, and Nadia was warm from the feed, "Let's leave this dreadful place, but let's go together, all four of us. It'll be just like Paris, oui? When it was fun." Her tone managed to stay just this side of pleading, and her smile took on a beguiling cast.

Nadia wrapped her sire's hand in both of hers and squeezed briefly before reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her face.

"Damien, haven't you taken a new home recently?"

[Saiketsu]

"Yes, I have, actually." Damien said, picking up her cue. He was waiting, holding back the need to suppress anything physical Sonya might try to do if the moment became too apparent. With one hand, he pushed Pierre urgently towards the door of the bar, forcing his car keys into the younger's chest - always aware of his burn. His fledgling stumbled a bit with this gruff contact but understood to put things into motion quickly.

Pierre will tell the driver to leave, he sent quietly to Nadia, and bring my car around. He hadn't had to say all that to Pierre to know he would do it. He had spent centuries communicating with him to know what clues he had to give. And just as he'd anticipated Pierre left the building with a bit of life in his steps. "I've convinced a few mortals that they didn't need the space after all. They left it completely furnished and everything. Fireplaces, lounge areas, beautiful portraits on the walls. You must come see it, Odessa. I insist," Damien finished firmly, taking Odessa's other hand. He was good at acting, and he tried to make it sound convincing, but he felt contrived. It hit him oddly to see Sonya so beside herself, not the proud woman he had known her to be. Was this what Nadia had had to deal with before he and Pierre had come along in Paris?

I have prepared the basement enough to contain her. I have Phineas bringing blood - and sedatives should the need arise. We have to get her into the car, though. Perhaps if we walk her arm in arm?

[The Cedar Witch]

Relishing in Nadia's touch the vampire sighed, smiling again.  Paris, yes, she remembered.  Haunting the moonlit streets, stalking unsuspecting humans and whisking them so gently between buildings.  The initial struggle when her teeth slipped into the skin, pushing against her steadfast strength with all their pathetic might.  How sweetly they crumpled to her chest when they finally gave in, leaning heavily into her like a lover.  Her jaw ached at the memory.

There was something in the back of her mind that she couldn't shake--something she was supposed to be doing.  As if this entire time she had been kept from remembering it.  But the notion of the four of them spending the night together again was altogether too tempting to pass up.  Yes, she would like that. 

To Damien's remarks, Odessa said nothing--entirely absorbed in the fantasy of hunting in the streets of Paris without concern of consequence.  She allowed herself to be lead outside, holding steadily to Nadia's hand.

"Fine then, we can take my car.  I have it waiting just outside."  She offered pleasantly, unsuspectingly.

[Harlequin]

"Pierre can take us," She said, in a dismissive tone she knew her sire would approve of, and an accompanying wave of her hand.

She sent a vague sense of agreement back to Damien as they began to lead Odessa outside, along with the warning that if at any point the Ancient vampire felt she were being coralled, she could bolt -- or worse.

As they came outside and found the curb briefly empty, Nadia clucked her tongue, feigning disappointment. ""Humans. Really only good for one thing, aren't they?"

[Saiketsu]

Dead blood laced with adrenaline, Pierre told the driver to beat it, which he was more than happy to do seeing the sight of his employer and knowing her reputation. Being outside was easier for him anyway after the night that he had. He needed a damn cigarette.

Get in the car.
Bring the car to the front door.
Wait.

He breathed uselessly, trying to relax. Frantic. Panicked. Angry. Pierre wasn't accustomed to feeling it all together anymore, not since the day that Laurent had burned him, and a long time before then. Sitting in the driver's seat allowed him to stew in this mess. He felt very much like a teenager who didn't get his way, being punished. He just wanted to drink, to fuck, and to have a good time, to forget his day with Ceci. Fucking Ceci. Now, not only had he to deal with getting abused physically by Lisa-Joe, but he also was being forced to deal with Sonya, whom he lived in fear of on a good day - and today was not one of her good days. Not to mention that stupid wash of feelings when Nadia had come along - glad to see her, relief, anger, coldness, pain. Truthfully, he would have much rather taken his frustration out on Sonya, on the pool table, on the steering wheel than do literally anything about seeing Sonya at the bar.

"Suck it up, asshole." Pierre said out loud to himself, knowing he was throwing a minor emotional fit like a pubescent girl. He sighed and looked towards the bar just as the three of them came through the door. Show time.

He left the engine idling and got out to open doors for the pair of them who escorted Sonya like royalty. He chose to play the part of chauffeur, preferring to keep his mouth shut, lest he say something angry or disruptive to whatever dreamland situation that Damien and Nadia had gotten themselves into. Pierre bit his own tongue for good measure as he stood there composed while Damien slipped in one side of the car, and Nadia helped Odessa into the other side, following quickly behind. So they put her in the middle because they didn't trusting her to not fling herself from the car in panic. A shame, Pierre thought loudly, grateful that no one could pick his brain.

When the last door shut, Pierre put his foot on the brake, put the car smoothly into drive and set the car in motion. Crisis avoided.

For now.

[The Cedar Witch]

"Wait."  Odessa darkened.  The car continued to move, in spite of her request.  Something was off.  Damien was in the back seat--there was no reason for that, not while the front was perfectly unoccupied.  Pierre was driving, they were not entering some cab.  This was the four of them going for a drive, to hunt?  Surely?  Like Paris, Nadia had said, they were going to have fun.  But as Odessa recalled, the very reason the two pair had parted was that Damien disapproved of the fun that she indulged in.  It was reckless.  Four vampires in one city would not go unnoticed if she continued on like this--so they had to leave.  Of course, that much was never said but it was understood between the lines of polite goodbyes.  She wasn't stupid.  So why, now, had they agreed to feed together?  If that was what they were doing.

The closed-quarters of the car, in the absence of the distraction of pumping hearts, allowed her to sharpen what little remained of her focus.  Though her head pounded mercilessly at the effort.  The anxiety was palpable, everyone's expression strained.  No, something was wrong.  Inside just a moment ago everything had been so cordial and polite--jovial even.  Had they arrived together?  No, they had come one after the other, barely a few minutes between.  There was no reason for them to have all appear at the same time.  It was maddening that she couldn't remember.

"Pierre, stop the car."  Her raised voice sharp with the familiar command but lacking the mental pressure to back it up.  To make him listen.  The throbbing behind her eyes worsened in the effort and she squeezed them shut.  Still, the car did not stop and it began to close in on her.  She had to get out into the air, to clear her head, to feed immediately--nausea had begun to set in.  Odessa was all too aware of the weakness in her mind, the swirling disorientation creeping in again.  She couldn't read anything from their -faces or their minds.  Tension like a spring coiled within her as she began to tremble--they were taking her somewhere.  What the fuck was going on?

"STOP THE CAR!"  She made a wild move to reach his shoulder, to claw, to shake some sense into him.  She needed to get out. 

[Harlequin]

Nadia grabbed that grasping, clawing hand once again in both of hers and pressed its palm against her cheek, "Why? Why, chere? What troubles you so?"

Her face was the very picture of daughterly concern, the same emotions thrummed along their shared bloodline, "We're all here together. It will be wonderful once we get there!" A smile again, "What more could we need?"